The Isle of Song

by Hilary Wilde

`Over seventy years,' he said. 'Seems incredible, doesn't it? Yet from the diaries she left behind, she was a happy woman. She had plenty of money and it was the sort of life she liked. It was quiet, she had friends who visited her, she loved to design gardens and to paint. She had people who loved and served her loyally.'

  `She was ... a widow?' Kate asked, a little uneasily, for although he was being friendly at the moment, she was afraid he might suddenly change.

  Simon leant on the rail and nodded, his face sad. `Yes. She was only married for about six months. She was the black sheep of our family. I had only heard of her vaguely until she died and left me the island. When she was seventeen, she fell in love with a man her parents refused to let her many, so she ran away with him. In America they got married and then they came on here — or rather, to Papeete. In those days, it was very different. While they were there, William Scott, her husband, who was an unknown artist, died. It was a short illness, barely twenty-four hours. I've read some of her diaries. She was very bitter about it,

  blaming her parents for forcing them to leave England. She firmly believed it was the tropical country that had killed him.'

  `How awful for her! Why, she couldn't have been more than eighteen,' Kate said thoughtfully.

  `Fortunately Scott was a wealthy man with a private income. In addition, she later inherited money from a grandmother, the only member of her family who sympathized with her. She never wrote to the family or they to her. I had a shock when I learned she had left me the island. I didn't know she even knew of my existence. The solicitors told me she had instigated inquiries about her family and found that I, like her, had defied my parents, so I suppose she thought we had something in common.'

  Kate's interest was too great for her to be cautious. `You defied your family . ?' she echoed.

  Simon was smiling. 'I most certainly did. We've always been in the tobacco business, got big plantations all over the world — really big concerns. I was expected to carry on the tradition, just as my brothers were. My only interest in tobacco is to smoke it.' He laughed suddenly. 'Besides, I wanted a more interesting life. I like taking gambles, meeting challenges. I find the Stock Exchange is the place for that.'

  But how on earth did she get the island ? Did she buy it ?' Kate was watching the blur of the island come closer and take shape. Now she could see the mountains — the harbour — the coral reef with the palm trees.

  `An old Polynesian chief learned of her sorrow and gave her the island to console her. He also gave her two of his children to look after, and they were still with

  her the day she died, but then they vanished.'

  `A case of fiu, I suppose,' Kate said thoughtfully.

  Simon turned round to look down at her. 'What do you know of fiu ?'

  `Georgia told me. She wondered how you ...' Kate stopped in time. They were getting on so well for a change that it would be a shame to say anything tactless. 'She told me about the parties your great-aunt gave.'

  `Yes, she loved being a hostess. The island misses her in many ways. What did you think of Papeete ?'

  `Beautiful and fantastic. Like something out of a dream. Completely different from anything I've ever seen,' Kate said simply.

  `You'll miss the night life. I imagine Georgia introduced you.'

  `She took me to night clubs. I wasn't very thrilled.'

  His eyes were puzzled. 'Most girls love them.'

  `It was hot and ... and rather boring,' Kate said. She could not tell him the truth — that it would have been wonderful had she been with the right man, but she had found Georgia's friends either too young or too old.

  `So you won't miss the night life on the island ?'

  `I'm sure I won't. I've never been used to it.' Kate was watching the island. Now she could see clearly the people gathered on the beaches — see the canoes going out in the small lagoon. 'What strange tall mountain peaks.'

  `Yes. The islanders have a legend about them. The one on the left is a woman, the one on the right is a male. The wide plain keeps them apart just as an un-

  friendly family might do, and so it's said the mountains have reached up into the sky in the hope that one day they can lean towards one another and meet.'

  `But mountains don't grow!'

  Simon was laughing. 'Of course they don't, but in Polynesian folk-lore anything can happen.'

  Now they were closer to the island and she watched as the boat steered its way between the gap in the reef. The lagoon was small and they moored at a short wharf.

  Long-legged girls in coloured skirts, with black hair hanging down to their waists, and flowers tucked behind their ears, came to greet them, putting leis of white scented flowers round Kate's neck. And then Nancy was there, a gay Nancy with her hair hanging loose and wearing a yellow cotton frock with her bare legs in sandals.

  `You're really well, Kate ?' she asked. 'Hi, Simon,' she said casually. 'I got those letters down.'

  `Good girl,' said Simon, his voice warm and friendly. `The car here ?'

  `Yes, Taro drove me down. He's teaching me to drive, Simon.'

  `Well, you're not to drive alone until I've given you a test,' Simon said. 'Even on this quiet island, there are hazards.'

  `I know. Taro was telling me.'

  Kate walked silently between the two of them and looked round her curiously. She could see where the cyclone had struck the island — whole trees ripped out by their roots and tossed about carelessly, wooden buildings collapsed into flat mounds. A long cream

  Rolls-Royce was waiting with a Polynesian chauffeur in immaculate white uniform.

  `Great-Aunt Adele believed in things being perfect,' Simon said quietly.

  Kate looked at him with a smile. 'Georgia told me that.'

  The car drive along a winding road that took them round the base of one of the thin jagged mountains to a flat plateau where there were rows of palm trees lining the white beaches, and then they saw the house.

  For a moment, Kate could not believe her eyes. It was a mansion, a long two-storied house with a wide verandah running right round it and a balcony above. It was painted white and the windows had canopies to keep off the sun. The garden was ablaze with flowers, great masses of crimson hibiscus, white frangipani, and as the car stopped before the house, Kate could smell the sweet fragrance.

  `Show Kate to her room and round the place,' Simon said curtly. 'I'll be in the office, Nancy. There'll be some more letters to do.'

  `See you later,' Nancy said cheerfully as he left them.

  The hall was lofty and cool. A Polynesian maid in the incongruous-looking uniform of an English parlour-maid came to fetch the luggage and to lead the way up the gracious winding staircase to the broad gallery. Nancy talked gaily as they followed her.

  `It's positively fab, Kate. I've never known such a life existed. Simon's such fun to work for — drives me like mad and keeps trying to catch me out !'

  `How's Mike ?' asked Kate, a little breathless as she hurried up the broad stairs.

  `He's at school. He's fine. Made several friends already. And Jerome is in paradise!'

  `That's what Simon said.'

  Nancy paused, her hand on the rail, to look back at Kate. 'I've never known Jerome so happy,' she said with an unexpected note of seriousness. 'You're going to love it here, Kate. We all do.'

  `You're working already ?'

  `Of course. Simon has a lot of business to do. I mean he's carrying on his English and American business from here. If only we had the telephone it would be much simpler, but . .

  Kate's room was as lofty and almost, she thought in that first moment, as big as the hall. Huge french windows opened on to a balcony. The bed was wide and had a carved headboard from which was draped a huge mosquito net. The windows were screened.

  `Mosquitoes are a nuisance,' Nancy said suddenly. `But there's always got to be a fly in the ointment. Wait till you meet Adam and Ian and . .

  She gave Kate no time to tidy herself but led the way round the big house.
Mike and Jerome were sharing a room, but Nancy had her own room, very similar to Kate's. Nancy led the way back downstairs and showed Kate the huge drawing room with its silk curtains and tapestries on the wall and the gleaming glass ornaments and shining silver. Kate saw the dining-room with its heavy furniture, all mahogany, and then Nancy led the way to Simon's office.

  `But he doesn't want to see me,' said Kate.

  `I want you to see the office. He said show you everything,' Nancy said with a laugh. She opened the door,

  and Kate hesitated. She could see Simon, and he was talking to a woman.

  The most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life.

  `That's Caterina. She's nice,' Nancy whispered loudly.

  Even as she spoke the lovely woman looked up and saw the two girls in the doorway. Her ash-blonde hair was swept back from a high forehead and twisted in a chignon on her neck, her skin was creamy, she had dark violet-blue eyes and now she smiled.

  `You must be Kate... how odd that our names are so alike,' she said, standing up with an easy graceful movement and coming towards Kate.

  In that moment, Kate saw that Caterina was not as young as she had first thought, but her body was slender and she moved with a dignified grace that made you stare at her. Her voice had an attractive huskiness too, and her smile was warm.

  `Yes, isn't it odd ?' said Kate, and then thought what a dull stupid answer it was.

  Simon was frowning as if annoyed at the interruption, but Caterina ignored him.

  `It was bad luck being ill just as you arrived,' she said sympathetically. 'You look fine now, but a bit tired. Don't overdo it, Kate. It's hard in these tropical countries to assess your own capabilities. Anyhow, if you feel sick or off colour, just send for the doctor. That's me.'

  `You ?' Kate gasped.

  Caterina laughed happily. 'Yes, I'm the doctor. Wait until you see our hospital. Great-Aunt Adele was the most generous woman I know, and she gave

  me carte blanche. I'll be proud to show you around any time.'

  Simon interrupted. 'Go and get unpacked, Kate, and then have a rest. I'll introduce you to the others at dinner tonight. Now, Caterina, I want you to explain...' He took the lovely, elegant woman by the arm and led her to the huge desk that was under the window, and Nancy went to a smaller desk where there was a typewriter.

  Kate felt dismissed. She gave a quick look round the room, seeing the filing cabinets that lined the walls, and then she quietly left the room, finding her way back to her bedroom. Having a shower and then lying down on the bed, she felt suddenly tired and a little unhappy. She felt out of things, rather like the odd man. What a shame, as Caterina had said, that she had been ill at the beginning. This last week seemed to have helped Nancy assimilate herself into the new life, a life that so far Kate did not know how to share. Simon would not need both of them in his office. What on earth was she going to do with herself all day?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  KATE was in a deep sleep when Nancy woke her.

  Nancy had changed into a yellow silk frock, her hair

  was twisted up on her head, and her eyes were shining.

  `Wake up, Kate,' she said impatiently. 'Simon doesn't like us to be late. And look at your frock! You've crumpled it.'

  Fighting awake through sleepiness, Kate sat up. 'I didn't mean to go to sleep . .

  `Simon said you'd be asleep. I said you'd never go to sleep in the daytime, but he was right, as usual.' She glanced at her wrist watch. 'Better hustle, Kate. Know where the bathroom is ? You do ? Good. See you downstairs, and make it snappy. We always have drinks in the drawing-room before dinner.'

  She was gone before Kate could ask one of the many questions in her head. Where was Mike? Surely school didn't last as long as this ?

  She hurried to the bathroom and took one of the quickest baths of her life. Whatever happened, Simon mustn't be given the chance to be sarcastic at her expense. Soon she was in a simple dark green frock that fitted her perfectly. She brushed her hair and hurriedly made up.

  She felt strangely nervous as she went downstairs and opened the door of the drawing-room and everyone looked at her. Simon saw her and came across the room. He wore a dark suit and a white silk shirt. He

  smiled.

  `Come and meet everyone, Kate.'

  The room had seemed filled with people at first sight, but now as Simon led Kate round, she saw that there were only two men, Nancy, Simon and herself.

  `This is Adam,' Simon said as he introduced a broad-shouldered man with a serious face and dark hair

  `Glad to meet you, Kate,' Adam said, his eyes looking at her thoughtfully. 'I gather you're going to help me. I sure could use a good book-keeper, which Nancy says you are.'

  `She's not working for a week,' Simon said quietly. Kate turned to him in dismay. 'I'm perfectly well . . .' she began.

  He looked at her. 'You may feel perfectly well, but we don't want you sick on our hands, and it takes quite a while to throw off the after-effects of your experience.' He led the way to where Nancy was laughing and joking with a tall, too-thin boy in taper-thin black trousers and a green velvet coat. His hair was long and fell forward over his face.

  `Ian, my nephew,' Simon said, and there was an oddly tense note in his voice.

  Ian looked at Kate and grinned. 'Hi!'

  Simon looked at Kate. 'I know you don't like sherry very much,' he said thoughtfully. 'We have a rather special cool drink here. Like to try it ?'

  `Yes, please.'

  Kate sat down and listened to the conversation which swirled round the room. Simon was near her, and when he turned, she asked the question that worried her.

  `Is Mike still at school ?'

  Simon smiled, his eyes amused. 'Course riot. He comes out about three o'clock and spends the rest of the day with his father. It means he's in the open air most of the time and Jerome likes having him around.'

  But his homework . .

  `They don't do homework at this school.' Simon paused as if waiting for her comment.

  She kept silent, for she was beginning to recognize these moments of his, when he set little traps into which she usually fell.

  After a pause he added : 'They do prep at the school.' see.'

  His eyes were narrowed as he looked at her. 'I wasn't surprised to learn you'd arranged about correspondence lessons. Mike took what he had to Mr. Anatole and he's finding them useful, combining them with his own methods.'

  `I don't want Mike to drop behind,' Kate said, once again on the defensive. 'It's hard to pick up when you go back to a normal school.'

  Simon laughed. 'This certainly isn't a normal school by any means, so you could be right.'

  The door opened and Jerome and Mike stood there. Mike looked hot and grubby in shorts and his shirt hanging out. He saw Kate and came towards her quickly.

  `Are you really well, Kate ?'

  She kissed him lightly, uncomfortably conscious of the amused smile on Simon's face. She felt annoyed. Why had he this effect on her? After all, Mike was her young brother. Was there something wrong in kissing him?

  `I'm fine, darling.'

  `Run and get cleaned up, Mike,' Simon said sharply. `Caterina's coming to dinner.'

  Mike turned, his face excited. 'She is? Oh, goody!' He turned back to Kate. 'I'm going to be a doctor, Kate, when I grow up. Caterina said I'm already showing promise ...'

  `Hurry, hurry !' said Simon. He waited until the boy had gone and Jerome had come to kiss Kate and ask after her health and then excuse himself while he went and changed, then he said :

  `Well ?'

  Kate looked at him. 'Well — what ?'

  Simon smiled 'Looks as if I'm going to win my wager. Now I only have to make you happy and I've won.'

  `Your wager ?'

  Simon nodded. 'You forget so quickly, Kate. Remember, I wagered a thousand pounds to your favourite charity as against some unknown forfeit you'll have to pay, that in six months you'll admit you did the right thing in coming here ... ?'<
br />
  Kate studied his face silently for a moment. She did not smile. 'Of course Nancy and Mike are happy,' she said quietly. 'Everything is new and exciting, but will it last ?'

  Simon's face was grave. 'It will.'

  `I wonder,' Kate said thoughtfully. 'Nancy is like a butterfly — loving the sunshine and new sights.' She looked down at her hands. 'I hope she stays happy,' she added.

  `And you — do you think you'll be happy here ?'

  Kate looked up at him, shaking her hair back with a little jerk. 'I shall — if I have enough to do.'

  He smiled 'You will have.' He stood up. 'In a week's time,' he added as he walked away from her.

  Adam came to take his place. Kate liked the friendly smile, the easy way he spoke to her. 'Tough luck falling ill on the way out,' he said. `Nancy's settled down amazingly well.' He was watching the pretty seventeen-year-old as he spoke. She was laughing at Ian, her face alight with laughter.

  `She's very pretty, isn't she ?' Kate said quietly, as she watched Nancy's quick movements.

  Adam smiled 'Enchanting is the word, but so very young.' He turned to look at Kate. 'I'm glad you're going to work with me, Kate. There's a terrific backwash of work that Simon wants cleared up. We're still in a muddle as regards Great-Aunt Adele's commitments and that sort of trouble. Nancy says you love book-keeping.'

  Kate laughed. 'Nancy exaggerates. I don't love it but I can do it. I never could learn shorthand, so I learned book-keeping instead.'

  `You can type ?' he asked anxiously, and beamed when she nodded. 'Good. I need someone like you. Simon monopolizes Nancy, so I can never get her to help me.' He stopped speaking as the door opened. `Now there,' he said quietly to Kate, 'is what I call a truly beautiful woman.'

  Kate agreed wholeheartedly as they watched Caterina greeted Simon with her lovely smile, and walk down the room with him, her steps smooth and almost floating, her deep red dress long and slender, off the

  shoulders, while round her neck was a gleaming diamond necklace.